Literacy Module Development Process
Literacy Throughout the Day
The first component of The Montana Early Literacy Project Model describes how to infuse language and literacy activities throughout children's daily preschool and home routines by developing and implementing "Literacy Modules." This process is accomplished by identifying a theme, developing theme-related activities, gathering necessary materials to be utilized and completed over a specified period of time, and implementing the activities within the existing curriculum and continued at home.
Literacy Module Development Process:
Step 1: Identify a theme, a selected children's book, and a song. Determine the goals and objectives of the unit including the key vocabulary and target concepts.
Step 2: Complete a book analysis on the selected story to identify relevant concepts and skills (see form in the appendix).
Step 3: Choose an additional four to eight children's books from the class, school, or public library that support and relate to the selected theme. Complete the book analysis for each book to ensure a representation of concepts, vocabulary, print, and cultural representations.
Step 4: Make a song card that illustrates the theme song and includes the words.
Use activities that focus on:
• language use
• print awareness
• phonological awareness
Target all Five Developmental Domains:
• academic readiness (e.g., shapes, colors, numerals)
• communication
• social/emotional and behavioral
• independence/self-help
• physical (fine and gross motor skills, sensory skills)
Step 5: Gather and create a variety of activities that relate to the theme and selected book to be embedded into the daily classroom routine (i.e. circle, learning centers, snack, recess, and library) along with the expected outcomes of each activity. Identify opportunities within the literacy activities to work on Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and objectives that meet specific needs of students. Make any necessary modifications and reasonable accommodations to the literacy activities. Gather needed materials to complete each activity. Be sure to include activities that focus on language use, print awareness, and phonological awareness.
Step 6: Compile a list of an additional 20 to 30 theme-related book titles and authors.
Step 7: Develop a 2-week lesson plan that infuses the literacy related activities throughout the school day (see the Early Literacy Project Weekly Planning Sheet form and the Literacy Lesson Plan Format form in the appendix).
Step 8: Create a newsletter for families that briefly describes the daily events, key vocabulary, target concepts, and extension activities, and other important information such as field trips, snacks, and classroom guests.
Step 9: Design a bulletin board or wall display that illustrates the selected book.
Step 10: Develop a family pack of activities that correspond to the Module theme. (The process for developing Family Literacy Bags is described following the Literacy Module Implementation Process.)
Step 11: Gather the family pack, books, and materials needed for the activities. Make a complete Literacy Module inventory list. Put all items in a large storage container that becomes the Literacy Module.
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The Module Implementation Process:
The Literacy Module Implementation Process serves as a procedure for infusing day long language and literacy activities into the existing curriculum. The following describes the process of implementing these thematic units:
Step 1: Send the newsletter home to families that briefly describes the daily events, highlighted vocabulary, concepts, extension activities, and other pertinent information such as field trips, snacks, and classroom guests.
Step 2: Read the activity descriptions and lesson plans and share with teaching team.
Step 3: Prepare the classroom for the Module activities using the materials gathered in the Module.
Step 4: Implement the Module activities along with the existing curriculum for two weeks. Be sure to read the selected book every day for two weeks.
Step 5: After completing the Module activities, complete the Early Literacy Project Module Evaluation (in the Appendix).